China delays requirement Web-filtering software on PCs
Under pressure from the U.S. government, the global tech industry and its own citizens, the Chinese government has delayed a controversial mandate set to kick in today that would require all new personal computers to be loaded with Web-filtering software capable of blocking pornography and objectionable political sites.
The Chinese government has long campaigned against Internet content it considers detrimental to society. Last week, some of Google’s services in China were temporarily shut down, apparently by the government, although it never acknowledges when it blocks Web sites or services. Chinese officials have accused the search engine of contaminating the country with pornography. The Green Dam announcement triggered relief among tech executives, though most remained mum, apparently out of fear of antagonizing China while the issue remains unresolved. Representatives of Hewlett-Packard and Dell would not directly comment on the Chinese government’s decision.
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